Circular knitting machine



Dec. 27, 1932. J. slRMAY 1,891,956

lFiled May' 29, 1950 S'Sheets-Sheet 1 w INVENTOR. M

Dec. 27, 1932. J. slRMAY CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed May 29, 193C 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 a. EN...

mln mln IN EN TOR.

h/KATTORNEYS Dec. 27, 1932. J. slRMAY 1,891,956

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed May 29. 193C s sheets-sheet 5 lof I /Wa 541 TToRNEys.

l Patented Dec. 27, 1932 UNITED STATES* PATENT OFFICE JULIUS SIRMLAY, 0F. PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T JACQUARD KNIT- TING MACHINE COMPANY, INC., 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORA-` TION 0F NEW YORK CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Application led Hay 29,

` The objects. of my invention are to provide improved dogless and racking mechamsms, and an improved combined doglessand racking mechanism for circular rib knitting machines.

The nature of the improvements in the dogless will be best understood from the tollowing description' of the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

For racking, one of the needle beds (here, specifically, the dial) is provided with mechanism. such for example as gear mechanism, for turning it both forward and back considerable distances (unlimited distances it desired) independently of the other needle bed. Mechanism is also provided for actuating a cam or cams of one 'of the beds to secure the retraction of all of the needles of that bed preliminary to racking; mechanism to angularly displace the knitting wave of one bed with respect to that of the other will accomplish the same result; the purpose 1s to have the needles out of such interlocking relation as will prevent racking. The arrangement is such that therackmg may be done. without stopping the machine, 1. e., while the needle cams continue to revolve. Such yarn cutters and holders may be provided that the feeding of all yarns can be stopped during the racking operation; in which case the needle cams of both beds are made soV adjustable that the needles of both beds are held inoperative as it were, i. e. inloperative to such an extent as to avoid casting otf during the racking operation. In the, alternative,'knitting may be continued at one needle bed the needles of the other bed being held entirely out of action; the yarn or yarns are then not cut. Preferably the mechanism for turning the racking needle bed is so arranged that it turns that bed a` definite measured distance each time it is called into operation, say the distance from centre to centre of adjacent cylinder needles; thereby each racking operation is caused to terminate with the dial and cylinder needles in proper relative positions for'further knitting. It will be so observed that so far as my invention concerns racking, the invention can be ap- 1930. Serial No. 457,213.

plied to racking the cylinder as well as racking the dial.

In my combined dogless and racking mechanism, the external member to which the dial is locked is itself mounted for movement aroundthe axis or centre line of the dial and cylinder, and the racking mechanism menlgioned above is applied to this externa-l mem- In the accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment of my invention: Figure l is an elevation, partly in section, of a part of a circular rib knitting machine, with the invention applied thereto, using latch needles. Figure 2 is a plan View, partly in section. Figure 3, a detail, is a sectional vien of a part of the Amechanism for racking the dial.k Figure 4 is an elevation of substantially the same part of this mechanism, the showing being from the left in Figure 2. Figure 5 is an elevation of the yarn changing mechanism selected for illustrative purposes. Figure 6 is a plan view of the latter. Figure 7 isa plan vieW of a selected mechanism for moving the dial needle cam into and out of operative position. Figure 8 is an elevation of selected mechanism for dropping a raising cam for the cylinder needles out of action.

While the drawings illustrate a single feed machine in which the cylinder and dial are stationary, it will be evident that my invention is not entirely limited to these features.

Inl the drawings, the stationary needle cyli inder and dial appear at 1 and 2 respectively; the rotating ca1n.cylinder and dial cam cap appear at 3 and 4 respectively. The top or a.

stationary member of the frame Work is shown at 6. y

The needle cylinder 1 and cam cylinder 3 can be assumed to be carried by the stationary frame of the machine in some ordinary manner, and the cam cylinder 3 is-driven by the power shaft of the machine; the dial 2 and dial cam cap 4 are also supported in quite an ordinary manner, that is to say, by a spindle 7 hung on the bracket 8 which is carried by posts 9 on the cam cylinder 3. The spindle 7 is pinned at 10 to a collar fastened to the dial 2, the cam cap 4 rests on the dial 2 and loosely encircles the spindle 7, and the latter is threaded to an adjusting nut 15 which bears on a combined radial and thrust bearing 16 resting on the top of the bracket 8. By turning the nut 15, the dial 2 may be raised or lowered with respect to the cylinder 1. The bracket 8 rotates with the cam cylinder 3 of course, andy by means of the link 17 the cam cap 4 is caused to rotate synchronously; all quite in accordance with common practice. l

To hold the dial 2 stationary (i. e. stationary with respect to cylinder 1) the spindle 7 is extended above the nut 15 by which it is supported, tota dogless mechanism carried.

by the annular bracket 18, which is supported by posts 19 on the stationary top or `frame member 6 of the knitting machine.` To locky the spindle 7, and hence the dial 2, against rotation along with the bracket 8, the upper end of the spindle is fastened against rotation to the ring 2O and the latter is surrounded by an annular member 21, (the two being separated a little distance as illustrated at 22 in Figure 1) and the two members 2O and .21 are at all times locked together by some of the latches 23; for the present, the annular locking member 21 can be regarded as held stationary in the bracket 18. For adjustment purposes, I directly key the spindle 7 (against rotation) to the collar 24, and connect this collar to the ring 20 by means of the pin 28, bracket 29 at ring 20, and the. opposing bolts 30 between the bracket and' pin 28; it will be apparent that by adjusting the bolts 30, the spindle, and thereby the dial 2, can be swung slightly one way or the other to place the dial needles in desired angular relation to the cylinder needles between which they project. The annular locking member 21, rests on the upper annular surface 31 of the bracket 18; except for the fact that racking is provided for in the mechanism illustrated, this member 21 might be permanently fastened to the bracket 18, or be the bracket 18 itself. The cooperating ring 20 (to which the collar 24 is fastened) rests on a rotating annular latch-operating member 32, which is carried by the lower annular supportingJ surface 33 of the bracket 18 and which, through its collar 34 and clamp 35, is driven by the pin 36 which rises from the bracket 8; the member 32 rotates synchronously with the v cam cylinder and dial cam cap therefore. To

drive the racking mechanism, the outer edge of this annular member 32 is provided with gear teeth as illustrated; as a part of the dogless mechanism per se, it is essentially the operator of the latches 23, for which purpose it isprovided with a cam race as indicated at 37, into which extend pins 38 carried by the sliding latches 23. Except opposlte the perforation or perforations in the latch-operating member 32 (such as at 43) through which the yarn or yarns are led, this race 37 may be substantially below the space 22 between ring 20 and locking member 21, as appears in Figs. 1 and 2. At one or more places 43, at the.I same distance from the centre line of the spindle 7 as the space 22, the latch operator 32 is pierced with one or more holes through which the yarn passes from the cones on the yarn carrier 44 on its way to the yarn guides and needles; the circular member 45 is simply to hold the yarns away from the more central mechanism in passing through these holes at 43 to the yarn guides feeding the needles of the cylinder 1 and dial 2. As shown in Figure 2, the race 37 is carried inwardly toward the spindle 7, opposite the point or points 43 where the latch operator 32 is perforated for the yarns. Therebeing more latches 23 than there are guides 43, or the latches being properly placed with respect to these guides 43, it is obvious that some of the latches will be held in position to tix ring 20 to locking ring 21 at all times (position of the latch 23 in Fig. 1), but that each .latch will be forced back entirely into ring 20 each time one of the guideways 43 comes to the respective latch, and thus the yarns permitted to pass the latches. The bobbin or yarn cone holder 44 may be supported by legs 48 rising from a ring 46, which rests on a circular ledge 47 projecting outwardly from the ring 20, as shown in Figures 1 and 2; at say each point 43, ring 46 is fastened to the latch operator 32, and thus caused to turn with this latch operator and the cam ring 3 and dial cam cap 4.

In order to rack the dial 2, I have provided the worm` 51 and its accessory mechanisms, the worm 51 gearing into corresponding teeth in the outer edge of the locking member 21, and thus serving to turn this locking ring 21 forward and back, and also to hold this locking ring Astationary when the worm is at rest. It is obvious that by shifting the locking ring 21 one way or the other, the dial 2 is shifted correspondingly with respect to cylinder l. Preferably the auxiliary' and driving mechanism for the worm gear 51 is such,`

as before indicated, that each time the worm vis called into rotation, it is rotated just far enough to shift the dial 2 a certain predetermined angular distance, say (and usually) the distance between centers of adjacent cylinder needles. To rack the dial greater distances.l the worm is then called into action re- Geneva wheel 52, and thereby turn it one way or the other; in their mid-position shown in Figure 2, both pins 53 and 54 are out of contact with the Geneva wheel 52, and hence the latter (and the dial 2) are at rest. ln the preferred lembodiment of my invention illustrated, these two pin disks 55 and 56 `are driven constantly, so longas the main drive shaft of the knitting machine is in operation, through connection to. the latch operating `member 32. As before pointed out, this latch-operating member 32 is in' continuous rotation throughV its connection to the bracket 8 rising from the cam cylinder 3. To operate -the racking mechanism, this latch-operating member is provided with gear teeth on its outer edge, and is en ged by a gear 57 which in turn drives gear 8, the latter driving 59 which is fastened to a shaft 60 c'arrying the miter gear 61. The two miterlgears 62 and 63 arein continuous mesh with the miter Agear 61 for driving thereby; gear 62 is keyedV to shaft 64, and the latter in turn is keyed to the sleeve 65 froml which the disk 55 projects.; miter gear' 63 on the other hand is carried by'sleeve 66, rotatable on shaft 64, and fastened to outer sleeve 67, which in turn is keyed'to a sleeve 68 mounted on, but free to turn on', an extension" of sleeve 65, as appears most clearly in AFigure 3. As a result j of this connection, 'the two pin disks 55 and v56 are driven continuously from the main drive shaft of the knitting machine, and be,

cause of the miter gear arrangement, the two pin disks rotate in opposite directions. For positioning the pins 53 and 54 with respect to Geneva wheel 52, the sleeve 65, and there with the sleeve 68, is slidable on the shaft 64; sleeve 68 is slidably keyedto the outer sleeve 67. By sliding sleeve 65 therefore, either pin 53 or `54 can be brought into position to turn-the Geneva wheel 52. -For sliding this sleeve 65, mechanisms of' various types can be provided obviously. Preferably I provide this sleeve with two oppositely facing circular cams 72 and 73 as'shownjin Figures 2 and 3. In the mid-position of this l of engagement with Geneva wheel 52),

sleeve 65 (when both pins 53 and 54 are out a slidingin 74 projects between the two cams 72 and 73 as illustrated in Figure 2' obviouslypin 74 in cooperation with cam 7 2 and 73 retains sleeve 65 in this mid-position and brings the sleeve back to this7mid-position should it tend to depart therefrom. Pin '74' is pushed toward the sleeve 65 by coil spring 75, and is accompanied bythe two parallel sliding pins 76 and 77, which are tied t0- gether for joint operation in opposite directions by the. lever 78 pivoted at 79. It will/ be observed that the' pins 76 and 77 are provided with projecting shoulders 80, located between shaft 64 and'collar 81 on pin 75, whereby pin 74 is retracted from between cams 72 and 73, each time either pin 76 or pin `80 of pin 76 are so related that when this pin is retracted toward its position in Fig.

3, the shoulder 80 on this pin 76 strikes collar` 81 and therethrough carries pin 74 toits retracted position .of Fig. 3; the collar and shoulder 80 ofpin 77 are rela-ted in the same manner, so that retraction of pin 77 also produces retraction of pin 74; when both pins v76 and tions of Figs. 1 and 2) the shoulders 80 let the collar 81 move so far toward shaft 64 that pin 74 is moved (by spring 75) into its projected position (Fig. 2). mechanism 84 rise two rods 85 and 86 ats tached to rocker arms 87 and 88 of rock shafts 89 and 90, which carry respectively rocker arms 91 and 92 for enga ement with the sliding pins 76 and 77.

pointed out. The continued rotation of shaft 64 then brings cam 73 to bear onthis p in 77 and this in turn pushes sleeve 65 (and therewith sleeve 68)y to the position shown in Figure 3; that is to say into the position where pin 53 engages the Geneva wheel 52. Thep'attern mechanism may release the rod 86 as soon as thev shaft 64 has turneft far enough to place cam 72 underneath sliding nin 74; when this happens spring 75 pushes pin 74 against this cam, and this in turn tends 'to retract pin 77, but because cam 72 prevents full projection of pin 74, pin 77 remains in about the position lllustrated in Fig. 3 untill shaft 64 has turned about 180 degrees from its position in that figure;'that is to say, about one complete revolution from the time pin 77 was thrust toward shaft 64. Each time the pattern mechanism raises rod 86'therefore, the pin 53 ,is caused to notch 77 are in their mid-positions (posi- From a pattern f en the shaft 64 c of this racking control mechanism'has been. turned 180 degrees from its position in Figthe Geneva. wheel 52 around one step, and

that each step (or turn of the Geneva wheel 52 from one notch to another) serves to turn the worm 51 just far enough to move the dial the desired predetermined distance. From this explanation it will be apparent that the pattern mechanism 84 by raising rod 85 in lieu of rod 86, can cause the sleeves-65 and to be moved in the opposite direction,

bringing pin 54 into cooperation withv the Geneva wheel 52, and thereby the dial 2 racked in the opposite direction.

Inasmuch as the whole dial is racked in one step, it is necessary that the dial needle knitting Waveland the c linder needle knitting wave be taken out o their normal interlocking relation. In the present instancethe dial needles are held retracted during the racking operation, and for this purpose, the `dial needle projecting cam 98 (Figure 7) may be ivoted toA the dial, cap'4, and provided wit a pin 99 engaged by lever' 103, also .pivoted on the dial cap 4, and connected to shaft 100 rising from the camcylinder 3, the latter being provided with two projecting levers 101 and 102, pivoted to the cam c hnder 3, for rocking it back and forth. en the lever 101 is thrust inwardly to the position illustrated in Figure 7, the dial needle cam 98 is in the position illustrated in that figure, and the dial needlesare projected to take on yarn in the usual way; on the other hand, when the lever 102 is thrust inwardly (and thereby shaft r100 rocked and lever 101 thrust outwardly) the dial cam 98 is turned to its inner position wherein the dial needles are allowed to ride through it without being projected. It will be understood that in. a multi-feed machine, the dial needle projecting cam at each `feed may be put out of action as a pre-requisite to rack/ing. Also, since I contemplate racking the ldial lwhile the cam cylinder 3 and dial cam ca. 4 continue in rotation, I provide yarn guiding and holding mechanism for taking all yarns out of action. Such is'the yarn mechanism at 105, which is designedto handle two yarns. The yarn guides 106-'fand 107 are in the form of levers pivoted at'108. i Above the level of the pivot 108, two '-leveifs109 and' 110 cooperate with the yarn'lingers 106Vand 107 respectively, lto turn vthese lingers outwardly (position of finger 106 infFigure 5) likewise, below the level of the pivot 108 two similar levers 111 and 112 cooperate with these fingers to thrust .the latter inwardly to yarn feeding position (position o'f linger 107 in Figure 5). s Since all yarns are put out of operation when the dial is being racked, a yarn scissor and holder is provided foreach yarn; in the present instance scissor and holder 113 serves the yarn of finger 106 and scissor and holder 114 serves the yarn of finger 107. By pushing in projecting linger lever 115, depending lever 116 is actuated to open the scissor and holder 113; similarly pushing in finger lever 117 actuates depending lever 118 to open scissor and holder 114; when these finger levers 116 and 117 are released, springs 119 close the yarn holders and scissors and restore the operating levers to the positions illustrated. It will be understood that corresponding scissors and yarn holders are provided at each of the .feeds,"on, a multi-feed machine.

Where all yarns are taken out of action during the operation of racking the dial, it is necessary that the needles of both the dial and I -The raising cam (or cams) for the cylinder needles may then be dropped down so far that the cylinder needles are not raised high enough thereby to drop their loops behind their latches. For this purpose (see Figure 8) the cylinder needle raising cam 122 may be carried on a sliding rod 123, mounted in the cam cylinder 3, and provided with a rack 124 and cooperating rack sector 125 for raising it into its high position wherein it is capable of raising the cylinder needles t0 such heights that the loops drop behind the latches, and a latch 126, pivoted at 127 in the cam cylinder 3 to project underneath the rack 124 to hold the needle cam raised against the tension of the spring 128; an operating finger 129 may serve to turn the rack sector 125 when thrust (from right to left) to the .position illustrated in Figure 8. It will be understood that the cylinder needle raising cam of each feed. of a multi-feed machine, may be lactuated in the same manner, i. e. be dropped to a relative inoperative position.l as a pre-requisite to racking the dial.

Bob-pins may be used to move or control the various parts before mentioned. In the present instance, the bob-pin 131 has head carrying plates 132 and 133, to p ut the yarns out of action, and has three possible positions: low, middle and high. -In its high position, plate 132 is in place to be struck by finger lever 109 and thus throws yarn position to strike linger levei` 115 and thus actuate the yarn holder and scissor/113. In its middle position, plate 132 is in position to be struck by the lin er levery 110 and thus throw yarn finger 10 out of action; at the same time plate 113 is in position to actuate linger lever 117 and .thus the yarn scissor and holder 114. In the'low position of this bobpin, plates 132 and 133 are entirely out of action. carries plates 135 and 136 for actuating linger levers 111 and 112, and simultaneously 115 and 117 for putting the yarns into action. Another bob-pin (not shown) is provided with plate 137, which also has three positions. In its highposition it is in position to be struck by finger lever 101; in its middle position, to be struck by linger lever 102 of the dial cam 98, and in its low position, is inoperative. Likewise another bob-pin has a plate 138, which in. one elevated position actu- In the same manner, bob-pin 134.

linger 106 out of action, and plate 133 is in v from under the rack 4124, and in its low position is inoperative. Allthese bob pins may be controlled by the same pattern mechanism 4. The exact nature of the pattern mechanism 84 is not material to the invention. The relative positions and extents of the bobpin plates illustrated in Figure 2, indicate the relative sequence of operations of the Amembers they actuate as the cam cylinder and dial cam cap rotate and bring the various finger levers into lcontact 'with these plates. In brief, preliminary to racking, the cylinder needle cams are depressed usually slightly before the dial needle cams are taken out of action. When al yarn is to be thrown out4 of action by plate 132, its yarn holder and scissor are opened before the yarn is taken out of action and held open until the respective yarn finger is thrown completely to its outermost position. When a yarn is to be put into operation by plate 135, the corresponding yarn holder is actuated a little later by plate 136. The removal of the yarns from action, preliminary to racking, is substantially simultaneous with taking the needle cams out of action.

` It will be understoodithat my inventionv is 'not limited to the detailed construction illustrated and described above, except as appears hereinafter in the claims.

I claim: ,f

l. In a circular rib knitting machine having a stationary needle cylinder and dial, and a rotating cam cylinder and dial. cam cap, a spindle carrying the dial and dial cam cap, a bracket mounted on the cam cylinder carrying said spindle, a` bracket mounted on a stationary part of the knitting machine, and dogless mechanism including means engaging the spindle to hold-the same against rotation carried by the last mentioned bracket.

2. In a circular rib knitting machine having a stationary needle cylinder and stationary dial, and rotating cam cylinder and dial cam cap, a spindle carrying said dial and .dial cam cap, abracket mounted on a rotating cam cylinder an'd carrying-said spindle, a bracket mounted on a stationary part of the knitting machine and substantially surrounding an end of said spindle projecting above the first Vmentioned bracket, a member fastened to the upper end of said spindle against rotation thereabout but free of the Weight of the dial and dial cam cap, movable latches for locking said member to said bracket mounted onr a stationary part of the machine, a rotating latch-operating member mounted on the latter bracket, and means connecting said latch-operating member to the said camcylinder for rotation thereby.

3.` The subject matter of claim 2 characterized by the fact that said member which is fixed to the upper end of said spindle against rotationthereabout, comprises a ,ring surrounding the spindle and means connecting.

said ring to the spindle providing for annular adjustment of the spindle with respect to said ring. y

4. In a circular rib knitting machine, havying a stationary needle cylinder and stationen-d of the spindle projecting beyond the first mentioned bracket, a member surrounding the upper end of the spindle and fixed thereto against rotation but tree of the weight of said dial and dial cam cap, sliding latches locking said member to the second mentioned bracket, a latch-operating member carried by the second mentioned bracket, having a cam race for .operating said latches, said member which is fixed against rotation with respect to said spindles being mounted on said latch-operating member, and means connecting said latch-operating member to said bracket mounted on the cam cylinder for rotationthereby.

5. The subject matter of cla-im 4, characterized by the fact that there is a carrier for the yarn cones, and this yarn cone carrier is lupported by the said latch-operating memer. v

6. In a circular rib knitting machine, the combination of two cooperating circular needle beds, a series of gear teeth fastened to one of said beds and disposed substantially coaxially therewith for racking said bed, a gear to mesh with said series of teeth, and means for intermittently actuating said gear at will to rack the last mentioned needle bed with respect to the other.

7. In a circular rib knitting machine, the

combination of two cooperating circular needle beds, a gear connected to one of said beds, a gear meshing with the first-mentioned gear to operate the latter, and means to turn the last mentioned gear definite predetermined angular distances to rack the needle beds corresponding distances one Withrespect to p the other.

8. In a circular rib knitting machine, the

combination of two cooperating circular needle beds, a series of gear teeth fastened to one of said beds and disposed substantially coaxially therewith for racking said bed, a gear to mesh with said series of teeth, and means to turn said gear definite predetermined angular distances intermittently at willl to rack the last mentioned needle bed corresponding angular distances with respect to the other needle bed.

9. In a circular 'rib knitting machine, the combination of two needle beds, means for racking one of said beds with respect to the other, said means including a Geneva wheel and a -pin wheel for turning the Geneva wheel, and means for putting thepin wheel into operative relation to the Geneva wheel.

t 10. IIn a circular rib knitting machine, the

combination of two needle beds, means for racking one of said beds with respect to the other, said means including the Geneva wheel and a pairof constantly driven, oppositely rotating, pin wheels, and means for sliding `10 said ,pin wheels axially to bring one or the other in to operating relation to said Geneva wheel.A f A 11. In a circular rib knitting machine having a stationary needle cylinder and dial, and a rotating cam cylinder and dial cam cap, the the combination of a dogless mechanism for holding lthe dial stationary with respect to the cylinder, said dogless lmechanism including a locking member provided with gear teeth, a gear engaging said teeth and means for turning saidfgear for racking the dial.

12. The subject matter of claim 11 characterized by the fact that said gear is a worm gear.

13. In a circular rib knitting machine having a stationary needle cylinder and dial, and a rotating. cam cylinder and dial cam cap, the combination of a dogless mechanism for holding the dial stationary with respect to the needle cylinder, said dogless mechanism including a movable locking member provided With gear teeth and a rotating latchoperating member, a gear meshing with the teeth of said locking member, and means for connecting said gear to said rotary latch-operating member at will for rotation thereby.

' 14. In a circular rib knitting machine having a stationary needle cylinder and dial, and a rotating cam cylinder and dial cam cap, the combination of a dogless mechanism. for holding the dial stationary with respect to the cylinder, said dogless mechanism including amovable locking member provided with gear teeth and a rotating latch-operating member, a worm gear meshing with the teeth of said movable lookin member, a continuously-rotating means riven by said latchoperating member, and clutch means for coupling said continuously rotating means to said gear to rotate the latter.

l5. In a circular rib knitting machine, having two needle beds, racking mechanism for 1 racking one of said beds as a whole with respect to the other, and yarn guiding and holding means for taking out of action and cutting all the yarns.

16. The subject matter of claim 15 characterized by the fact that means are provided to discontinue the knitting action on the needles of both beds during racking, to avoid casting off. A

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification.

J ULIUS SIRMAY,

ACERTIFICATE Ol" CORRECTION.

Parent 1,891,956. l December 27, 1932.

1 JULIUS SIRMAYY. l't is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, line 46, claim 2, for the. article "a" second occurrence read "the", and line 87, claim 4, for "spindles" read "spindle"; page. 6,. line 14, claim 11,A strike .out the article "the";

andy that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein f that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office. Signed and sealed this 28th day of February, A. D. 1933.

M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

